Chip Kelly

The University of Oregon and former football coach Chip Kelly escaped any major penalties after an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations. The Ducks football program loses one scholarship per year for three years and was placed on probation for the same period after the NCAA's Division I Infractions Committee found that Kelly and the university failed to monitor the program, according to a report released Wednesday. In addition, Oregon's official paid recruit visits were reduced from 56 to 37 for the next three academic years; its evaluation days were cut for each of the next three seasons; and it is not allowed to use recruiting services while on probation.

Chip Kelly is just too busy to attend your wedding. It's an excuse we've all tried to use before, but the Philadelphia Eagles coach actually does have a pretty good reason for not witnessing the marriage of two random fans who decided to send him an invitation. A little thing called the NFL draft. Otherwise, he'd be there without hesitation. After all, who doesn't want to spend a Saturday watching two strangers tie the knot? Anyhow, Kelly was gracious enough to send a handwritten RSVP.

Oregon football Coach Chip Kelly is finalizing a deal to become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach, various media outlets reported Sunday. Kelly met with the Buccaneers last week, and both sides are hopeful an agreement can be reached within the next 24 to 48 hours, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Kelly has been Oregon's head coach for three years, winning the Pac-12 or Pac-10 Conference title in all three and reaching three Bowl Championship Series games. Kelly, 48, would make the jump to the NFL if a financial agreement can be reached, a source told KGW in Portland on Sunday night.

The Cleveland Browns have yet to say who will start at quarterback for them Sunday. Same goes for the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. As for the Philadelphia Eagles? Coach Chip Kelly, tongue firmly planted in cheek, said Monday that Nick Foles will be "the starting quarterback for the next 1,000 years here. " What Kelly was really saying is Foles has played well enough to lock down the job for the moment, but the coach doesn't feel the need to designate anyone a bulletproof starter.

Oregon football Coach Chip Kelly announced Monday that he's remaining with the Ducks, though he says he was flattered by the interest shown in him by the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I enjoyed meeting with the Glazer family and General Manager Mark Dominik , but after numerous discussions, I concluded that I have some unfinished business to complete at the University of Oregon," Kelly said in a statement released through the school. Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens said Oregon granted Tampa Bay permission to talk with Kelly.

Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss whether Michael Vick will be able to hold on to the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback spot the entire season. Join the conversation by voting in the poll and leaving a comment of your own. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times If Michael Vick stays healthy… that's a big if. I subscribe to the theory of Arizona Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians, who says, “If you put a quarterback in harm's way enough times, harm will come to him.” NFL defenses are going to be far better prepared for running quarterbacks, and Vick, 33, the oldest player on the roster, will have a tough time staying upright.

Mark Helfrich, the 39-year-old offensive coordinator who helped orchestrate Chip Kelly's high-powered offense, has been promoted to coach. Helfrich, an Oregon native, began his coaching career with the Ducks in 1997 as a graduate assistant from Southern Oregon. He made his mark as a quarterbacks coach, with stops at Boise State (1998-2000), Arizona State (2001-05) and Colorado (2006-08) before returning to Oregon in the same capacity. “Going forward we will attack in all phases.

It's all about Duck dignity and Duck power. The Oregon Ducks have been the finest football team in America for the last year and have never quite gotten the credit for how good they are. Watching them play is like watching a video game ? they score and score and score. Six quarters instead of four would be great. Chip Kelly is a great head coach. The Ducks are able to recruit now and get the best athletes. When I was there, we had trouble getting the best athletes in the state to come to Oregon.

Pablo Mastroeni, the veteran midfielder acquired by the Galaxy last week, said he's already comfortable with his new team but still must prove he deserves playing time. "I have to reinvent myself in a way, I have to prove myself again," Mastroeni, a six-time Major League Soccer all-star, said in a podcast on the Galaxy's website Tuesday. "This is a new, exciting phase for me. " Mastroeni, 36, spent the last 11-plus years with the Colorado Rapids, where he was the team's most valuable player in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

UCLA players closed Coach Rick Neuheisel's last practice by carrying him off the field, singing the UCLA fight song Wednesday. Neuheisel, fired Monday, led the team in the UCLA chant. He will coach the Bruins for the last time against Oregon in the Pac-12 Conference championship game Friday. Asked whether he could have received a better tribute, Neuheisel said, "It's tough to imagine. It's meaningful when you work to create relationships. You want the best for them. You want them to achieve what they are capable of achieving.

Buffalo quarterback EJ Manuel could be coming back. Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles should be coming back. Manuel, who has sat out a month with a sprained knee ligament, might be ready to return for the Bills' game Sunday at Pittsburgh. By all rights, Foles should be starting for the Eagles, considering he tied an NFL record Sunday with seven touchdown passes in a victory over Oakland. But Philadelphia Coach Chip Kelly declined to name a starter Monday for the upcoming game at Green Bay. "It's going to be based on health," Kelly said.

The season hasn't gone precisely as Philadelphia Coach Chip Kelly had hoped, but there are some positive signs for the Eagles, who are tied with Dallas atop the NFC East at 3-3. The Eagles gained 425 yards in Sunday's 31-20 victory at Tampa Bay, making Philadelphia one of four teams in NFL history to gain at least 400 yards in each of its first six games. The other three are this season's Denver Broncos, the 2007 New England Patriots and the 1983 San Diego Chargers. What's more, the Eagles are balanced.

How did the San Diego Chargers prepare to face Philadelphia on a quick turnaround? In part, they spent last week turning around quickly. To prepare for Sunday's game at Philadelphia after a Monday night opener and to adjust to Chip Kelly's fast-forward offense, the Chargers secretly employed a novel strategy at their closed-to-the-media practices. Instead of getting a long look at the formation they were facing, defensive players turned their backs to the offense and instead trained their eyes on defensive coordinator John Pagano.

The Philadelphia Eagles have an even higher gear, and Coach Chip Kelly is determined to find it. Yes, the team that tore off 53 plays in the first half of Monday's 33-27 victory at Washington - more than the 49 plays the Carolina Panthers ran all game in their opener - is capable of going even faster. "I felt like it was slow, to be honest with you," Kelly said this week. "I'm not joking. We've got to do a better job. We left the ball on the ground too much. We didn't get the ball to the officials.

Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss whether Michael Vick will be able to hold on to the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback spot the entire season. Join the conversation by voting in the poll and leaving a comment of your own. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times If Michael Vick stays healthy… that's a big if. I subscribe to the theory of Arizona Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians, who says, “If you put a quarterback in harm's way enough times, harm will come to him.” NFL defenses are going to be far better prepared for running quarterbacks, and Vick, 33, the oldest player on the roster, will have a tough time staying upright.

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller received a six-game suspension under the NFL's substance-abuse policy Tuesday, taking away the best defensive player from a team many expect to make a run at the Super Bowl. The league wanted a longer penalty for the third-year linebacker, but the sides agreed to less than half the season, a person familiar with the negotiations between the linebacker and the NFL told the Associated Press. Broncos Executive Vice President John Elway said the team was frustrated with what happened "and, I think, disappointed in Von. " According to the NFL, Miller is eligible to play and practice through the last two preseason games.

Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount , who was suspended for the season after punching a Boise State player in the wake of the season opener, has been allowed to rejoin the Ducks. The university requested Blount's reinstatement, which was approved by Pacific-10 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott on Monday. Blount will be able to play for the No. 14 Ducks on Saturday night when they play host to Arizona State. He missed eight games. Blount issued a statement saying he was grateful to Oregon Coach Chip Kelly for giving him a second chance.

This isn't a myth or a theory or conjecture or a hypothesis -- it's the inconvenient truth. Five of Chip Kelly's six losses as Oregon's head football coach have come when his opponent has had more than a week to prepare for the Ducks' rapid-waddle offense. "It's an annoying little fact, isn't it?" Oregon guard Carson York said last week in advance of the Rose Bowl on Monday. The exception was USC's victory in November at Eugene, a week after the Trojans' home win over Washington.

The Philadelphia Eagles excused Riley Cooper from all team activities Friday as the wide receiver dealt with the repercussions of being caught on video making a racial slur. Cooper has been sent away from the team to get help with his issues, something upon which the player and the team agreed. Coach Chip Kelly made it clear after Friday's practice, however, that Cooper would be back with the team when he's ready. "There has never been any question of cutting Riley," Kelly said. Cooper said the last few days have been incredibly difficult, and he will seek counseling.